Drug Tests at Tour De France Mostly Clean

AIGLE, Switzerland (AP) _ All but two urine and blood samples taken during this year's Tour de France were negative for doping products or prohibited substances, the International Cycling Union said

Friday, July 30th 2004, 11:28 am

By: News On 6

AIGLE, Switzerland (AP) _ All but two urine and blood samples taken during this year's Tour de France were negative for doping products or prohibited substances, the International Cycling Union said Friday.

The exceptions were samples belonging to Belgian rider Christophe Brandt, who was expelled from the Tour, the UCI said.

More than 350 blood tests were conducted before and during the Tour, UCI said.

Hendrik Redant, coach of Brandt's Italian team Lotto-Domo, said the rider was sent home July 9 after testing positive for methadone, a drug typically used to help recovering heroin addicts. Brandt suggested that a laboratory error might be to blame.